Image slide projector apparatus



Feb. 16,v 1954 1&1 J-

H. G. FlTz GERALD 2,669,156 IMAGE SLIDE PROJECTOR APPARATUS Filed April22, 1950 Patented Feb.' 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '5 Claims.

This invention has to do with a slide projector, it being a generalobject of the invention to provide a simple, practical, improved devicefor projecting images from slides, or the like.

Projecting devices are in general or common use serving to project lightthrough transparencies so that an image is cast upon a screen, or thelike. The general type of structure referred to is that having albodycarrying a light source and having a top with a transparent sectiondesigned to receive or carry a transparency or a sheet on which markingsare provided or applied in such manner as to be projected onto a screenby means of a projection head carried on a post. The general class ofdevice referred to is suitable for handling plates, slides, ortransparencies which are of substantial size, but itis impractical orunsuited for the handling of transparencies of limited size. It is ageneral object of this invention to provide apparatus of the generaltype hereinabove referred to including elements for carrying smallslides or slides of limited size and to provide for eective projectionof images from such slides or transparencies.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatusof the generalcharacter referred to applicable to a typical or standard type ofprojector as an attachment to make such apparatus effective for theprojection. of slides considerably smaller than those normally handledby the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide structure of thegeneralcharacter referred to involving few simple parts that are inexpensive ofmanufacture and which are simple and convenient to handle or manipulate.

The structure to which` the present invention is applicable'or in whichthe invention is incorporated includes, generally, a box-like body, thetop of which has a transparent section. A light source in the bodydelivers light to a means which directs the light upwardly through thetransparent section of the body. A post or standard projects upwardlyfrom the body and carries a light projecting head in vertical alignmentwith the transparent section of the body top. The projecting headinvolves a projection lens and a reflector which act to direct the lightreceived from the body horizontally in such manner as to fall on ascreen, or the like, and thus cast an image of a transparency that maybe interposed between the body and the projection head. A slide ortransparency carrier is supported by the post to occur between theProjection head and the body and involves, generally, a plate with alight-passing aperture, an apertured shutter slidably carried by theplate to modify the size or shape of both of the openings through thecarrier, and mounting means supporting the plate from the post. Theshutter is supported so that it can be shifted into and out of positionto register with the aperture in the plate and the mounting meanssupports the plate so that it can be shifted between a horizontalposition where it is in the path of light between the body andprojection head and a position where it is vertically disposed andremoved from the light passing from the body to the projection head. Themounting means is preferably such that the plate can be completelydetached or separated and hence removed, as circumstances may require.The structure further involves a lens interposed between the lens of theprojection head and the slide carrier serving to modify or vary theeffective focal length of the projection lens.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of a typicalpreferred form and application of the invention, throughout whichdescription reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embody- Ving the presentinvention showing a slide carrier in operating position and cooperatingwith a modifying lens to effectively project an image from a slideconsiderably smaller than is intended to be handled by the body of thestructure, parts of the construction being broken away to show detailsof the construction. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing theconstruction set to handle slides smaller than those to be handled withthe setting shown in Fig. l, and showing a kmodifying lens of a type orsize suitable for the setting illustrated, the slide carrier lbeingshown in dotted lines and in an inoperative position. Fig. 3 is anenlarged side elevation of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 2showing thev manner in which the modifying projection lens is releasablyretained in operating position. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailedsectionalview taken as indicated by line 4 4 on Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detailedsectional view taken as indicated by line 5 5 on Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is anenlarged plan section taken as indicated by line 6 5 on Fig.v 2, andFig. 7 is a positive viewof the mounting means provided for the slidecarrier showing the parts positioned as indicated in dotted lines inFig. 2.

The structure illustrated in the drawings involves, generally, abox-like body A, a light source B within the body, means C receivinglight from the source B and directing it upwardly through a transparentsection I in the top il of the body, a post D projecting upwardly fromthe body, a light projecting head E carried by the post D through yamounting means F so that it occurs above the transparent section lll, aslide carrier G, *mountingr :means H supporting the carrier G from thepost D to be movable into and out of position in the path of lightpassing from the section I0 to the head E, a modifying lens J and amounting meansfK: for lens J.

The body A is shown as a simple, box-like structure characterized byvertical'walls I2r carry ing the top Il and providedwitlr a bottomd 3.In the particular case illustrated the body is shown provided withsuitable legs I4 whichserve to support it with the bottom I3 a suitabledistance aboveV arsuitable suppcrtfsuchasfa table top or the like.

'The lightsource-B is suitably, locatedin the body A and may, .asshown,.;bea suitable incann descent lampfcarried :in-` a socket l5suitably located in the body.

The means .C directing ylightfrom thelamp B through the transparentsectionfl oftop Il is shown as .including .a concentrating lightreflector 2c located beh-indthe lamp anddirecting light horizontally ,inthe -body onto anangularly related flat reflector 2l which .directs .thelight upwardly toward the transparent section I0 vand through a suitablelens assembly 23 supported inthe body ybeneath the*V transparent section1.5.

The means C best shown in Fig.. 1 of the draw.- ngsserves to .di-rect a.shaft ,of light upwardly throughthe transparent` section mand toward theprojection head `E so that itvwill shine .through a transparencylocated-between the body and the head.

'I'he post D is shown as a rigidvertically .disposed element. carried bythe bodyA `adjacent one edge thereofso Ithat it is laterally .offsetfrom the transparent section l0 :of .top II.

VThe light vprojecting AheadE is of typical form and construction andisv shownas involving, generally, a housingat the bottom .of which thereis a. projection` lens vassemblvl` receiving. light projected up throughsection lil. `An .inclined or angularly disposed flat reflector. 3.2arranged in the housing receives light from thelens assembly 3l .anddirects. it horizontallythrough one side of the housing 30 whereI the,housing has an opening covered bya suitable. transparency. .33.

The particular lensunit or assemblyl iS.` shown f as involvinga tubular.lens holder 34 depending .from the housing ,30 and having. an annular`flange-like enlargement .35 atits lower en d.

-The mounting F. serves to `support'the lprojecting head'E fromthen postD ,and isY shown l.as l

involving collars .40 `slidably ycarried on the post Dv and supportingaprojectingarm'lll` .to which .the .housing E is secured Abyfa suitableclamp fastener 42. One of the collarsf40 may be split and provided vwithaV vscrew clamp 44- -so that the mount-ing FA canbe adjusted verticallyalong the post to lvary the position/of the head above lthe body A.

The structure thus rfar `described in detail is a standard or typicaltype of projectorand the lensfassembly 3l of the projection head E issuch that a-'transparency arranged on the top ofthe body. A to: cverlethe .transparent section 110 will Yhave..in'xages .er markings :thereonprcjectedfby means of the head.

In accordance with the present invention the carrier G is provided toeffectively support slides or transparencies considerably smaller thanthose intended to cover the transparent section l0 of the body A and thestructure is such yas to accommodate small slides of different sizes. InFig. l a setting of the structure is shown to carry or accommodateslides of one size and in Fig. 2 the setting is such as to accommodateslides of a still smaller size.

vThe carrier G provided by thepresent invention preferably involves aplate 50 with a iiat top 5I and a light passing opening or aperture 52.f'lhe plate. isadapted to be mounted by means H so'that it ishorizontally disposed and has its apertureior opening 52 in line with orin registration with thesection I0 .and lens assembly 3l as shownthroughout the drawings. The aperture 52 in .plate 50 is such as toproperly accommodate or pass light to a transparent slide Sconsiderably-smaller than .a slide `that would cover the transparentsection I!! ofthebody. In .the Vform of` the invention illustrated the.aperture 52 .in the plate 50 is rectangular in plan conguration, inwhich .case it willY advantageously, accommodatea rectangular slide andslide receiving recesses 53 areprovided in the vtop of the plateadjacent the edgesoftheopening or aperture l52 to receive. the marginalorv edge portions.. of .the slide S inthe .mannershown in Fig. 4 .of`the drawings. Through this construction av slide can be accurately.positioned in register with the aper- .ture 52.

In` a typical application of thepresent. inven- .tion the aperture. 52injtheplate 50. is such as to accommodate .a slides of suchsize that thedesired projection; isgained with. a suitableY modifying `lens .J ,whentheplate .5U is positioned aboutasshown in Fig. l .of the drawings.VWhen it is desired to :projecta slide which is substantially smaller,than the. slide S showninjFig. 4, anapertured4 shutter 60 is employed..In the preferred form .of the invention .the shutter is .aflatplate-like .element slidably` carried by the plate 50, preferably atthe bottom thereof, .andthe shutter has .an aperture 6I considerablysmallerin size than theaperture 52. v.In ,the formoi .the yinventionillustrated guidevvays ,arer providedat orin the .bottom Vof plateV 50.and the shutter Bisslidably suported in thegllideways 63, beingretained therein by ange members 64 secured in position by suitable.fasteners 65. The plate 5t. and shutter. Boare. 4so proportioned .thatwhen the shuttter ,is ina retracted position, as ,shownin Fig. 5, itleaves the aperture ..52 in the plate 50 ,wholly .unrestricted When theshutter. is moved .to operating posi- .tion it vcovers the .aperture52.andtheaperture Eil.. in theshutter .can be .positioned concentric withthe aperture ,52. rlhe shutter is provided with slide guiding. recessesGIadjacent .theedges vof aperture. Bland. a suitable, handlet visprovided todepend fromthe shutter so that it .can

.be conveniently. operatedbetween the ,positions .above described.

. The '.-mounting means.. neun-.Porting theplate as from the post..DisshOWn .as involvinga mounting bracket. ymadeupof spaced .collars 10and-an arm. H projecting from the collars. The collars .are slidable onthepost D and one Vof themis preferably split and .carries aclamp screwi2 thatcanbe operated toset .it against .Inovement onthe` post when thel.plate50'has A@Berlar- .ransed the.. desired manner.

. '-lhearm 4'l-.l,..w1.1.ich.i.s. .rigid .withthe .collars-10.

as shown in Fig. 7, projects' radially from` the post and a` flat lug 15projects laterally from the outer end of the arm. A depending flange 16is provided on the bottom of the plate adjacent one edge and preferablyat one corner of the plate. The ange 16 is adapted to be arrangedagainst the lug 15 and a. screw fastener is provided for connecting theflange andvlug. In lthe particular case illustrated the fastener l'l'Iis threaded into an opening 18 lprovided in the lug 'l5 yand has a head19 that engages the flange 16-to clamp the flange against the lug. Anotch 8U in the fiange 16 receives the screw fastener 'as shown in Fig.7 of the drawings and permits of the flange being completely detachedfrom the lug 15 whenever the fastener 'l1 is released and ascircumstances may require. A suitable lock or stop means is provided forsetting the plate 50'in a horizontal position. In the case illustrated aprojection or pin 82 projects from the lug l5 and enters a socketopening 83 in the flange 16 when the flange and lug are related so thatthe plate 50 is horizontal. Through the `mounting H above described theplate 50 can be readily positioned in operating positions such as areshown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings and when the plate is notrequired for use it can be completely detached following release of theclamp screw 11, or the bracket can be swung to a position such as isshown in the dotted position in Fig. 2 and the plate can be positionedvertically as there shown, all with the result that the plate is out ofthe path of light and is so located that it does not in any wayinterfere with normal use of the apparatus.

When the plate 5D, or the plate 50 and the kshutter 6G carried thereby,are located to properly position slides of differentsizes, as indicatedin Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, modifying projection lenses J areemployed.4 When the. plate 50 is positioned to utilize the aperture 52therein and is located about as shown in Fig. 1, a modifying lens J isused having a focal length which is such as to modify the action of theprojection lens assembly 3| of head E so that a slide on the plate 5|)and in register with the aperture 52 is properly projected. When theshutter 60 is employed and the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 2 aprojection lens J is used having a different focal length and serving tomodify the lens assembly of the head E so that the desired projection isgained. It will be understood that various and suitable lenses J can beprovided. The means K provided by the present invention serves toreleasably mount a lens J so that it supplements the lens unit 3| of theprojection head. In the case illustrated the modifying lens J is mountedin a holder 90 and the holder is provided at its periphery with springclips 9| that can be releasably engaged over the ange 35 in the mannerclearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Through the constructionjust described modifying lenses J can be arranged in place and removedat will, making it simple and convenient to modify the action of theprojection head to accommodate the slides being projected.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that as the apparatusoperates the shaft of light delivered by the means C converges upwardlyfrom the body to the head E. When large slides are to be projected theymay be arranged directly on the top of the body A in register with thetransparent section l0. Whensmall slides are to be used the carrier G isemployed and it may be positioned as indicated in Figs.' 1y and'2according to the size ofthe slide and so that a maximum amount of lightis projected through the slide. As above described it will be understoodhow modifying lenses J can be applied tothe projection head to vary itsaction, depending upon the location of the slide relative to the head.With the structure provided by the present invention the variousadjustments or adaptations can be made easily and quickly, so that theapparatus can be converted to handle slides of various sizes rwithlittle or no waste of time.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of myinvention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specificdetails herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variationsor modifications that may appear to those skilled inthe art and fallWithin the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An image projector including, a box-like body having a top with atransparent section therein, a light source in the body, a postprojecting up from the body, means in the bodydirecting light from thelight source in a vertical shaft up through said'section, a lightprojecting head on the post above said section receiving said verticalshaft of light and delivering a shaft of light horizontally andincluding a lens normally projecting an image from a transparency on thetop of the body, a slide carrier on the post carrying a slide above saidsection and in the path of said vertical shaft of light, and a lensattached to the head and cooperating with the lens of the projectinghead to project an image from the slide, the carrier including a platein a plane normal to the axis of said vertical shaft of light and havingan aperture passing light to the head and an apertured shutter slidablycarried by the plate and adapted to be shifted relative to the plate tomove the aperture in the shutter into and out of register with theaperture of the plate the aperture in the shutter being smaller than theaperture in the plate.

2. An image projector including, a box-like body having a top with atransparent section therein, a light source in the body, a postprojecting up from the body, mea-ns in the body directing light from thelight source in a vertical shaft up through said section, a lightprojecting head on the post above said section receiving said verticalshaft of light and delivering a shaft of light horizontally andincluding a lens normally projecting an image from a transparency on thetop of the body, a slide carrier on the post carrying a slide above saidsection and in the path of said vertical shaft of light, and a lensattached to the head and cooperating with the lens of the projectinghead to project an image from the slide, the carrier including a platein a plane normal to the axis of said shaft, the plate having anaperture passing light to the head and having therein, a light source inthe body, a post projecting up from the body, means in the bodydirecting light from the light source in a vertical shaft up throughsaid section, a light projecting head -on the :postabove-:said sectionreceiving said .vertical shaft of Llight @and delivering ya shaft 'oflight horizontally and: including a lens normally projecting `an imagefroniza transparency on the top of the body, an apertured-slide carryingplate.

-mounting-means `supporting theY plate yfrom the post .betweenthe headand 4body and with the aperture of the plate Apassing vlight-'to ythehead, and a lens at the head and cooperating with the lens of theprojecting *head toproject an image from the slide, thexmountingxmeansincluding a bracket slidable on the post and having an armprojectingfradiallygof the post, a lug on'the arm 'projecting' laterallyof .the'arnL allange `on the plate, and a screw fastener connecting thelug and flange. v

4. An image projector including, a boxf-'like body having a top Withaatransparentrsection therein, a light source inthe tbody, a postprojecting upfrontr the body, lmeans inthe body directing light fromfthelightxsource in av vertical shaft :up'throughfsaid section, .a lightprojecting head* on "the post above saidpsection'receiving said verticalshaftof lightnand deliveringa. shaft of light horizontally and includinga lens normally projecting an image from-,atransparency on the top ofthe-body, an=apertured slide carrying plate,

-mounting means `supporting Vthe plate from the post "between :the headand body and with the aperture of `the plate passing light to the head,and a lens `at l.the head and cooperating with the lens of theprojecting; head to Vproject `an image `from theslide, the; mounting.means including a .bracket slidable on the post, a clamp screwsettingthe bracket1againstmovementv on the post, the vbracket 'havinglan arm .projecting radially of the Apost and'havinga laterallyAprojecting lug on thev arm, a ange onthe plate, ascrew fastenerconnecting the lugand'flange, and stop` means stopping the plate in ahorizontal plane.

5. An image projector including, a ,box-like `body having asubstantially horizontal top with :ai'transparentf section'thereinadapted to support a transparencyl ya light-sourcein the body directingylight horizontallyin the body, a substantially vertical :postv'projecting up from the top of the body, means inthe body receivingVlight from the light sourcegand directing it upwardly in a Ver-'ticalfshaftthat passes up through said section, a

unitary light'projectinghead on `the post and spaced a substantialvdistance above said section vand .includingvapreector receiving saidvertical shaft and'light .and/delivering a shaft of light horizontally:and including a lens permanently relatedato the 4reilector-and normallyprojecting fan image from a transparency on the top of the body,-:aLslide carrier on the post between the head-and body andadapted to carrya slide betweenzthe head and saidsection and in the pathof--saidfvertical shaft of light, a second lens and means. adapted to4releasalcnly support said second lensA adjacent the head wherebyv saidsecond lens cooperates with the lens of the projecting head tov 4projectan: imagegfrom the slide.

HAROLD G. FITZ GERALD.

ReferencestCited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 778,891 Rausch Jan. 3, 1905 1,038,349 Goodrich Sept. 10, 19121,174,208 Walsh Mar. '7, 1916 1,176,485 Ott Mar. 21, 1916 1,204,425 GallNov. 14, 1916 1,738,942 Brenkert et al. Dec. 10, 1929 1,857,135 Brenkertet al May l0, 1932 2,124,954 P rrnov July 26, 1938 2,158,903 'Knobel May16, 1939 2,221,160 Worthington et al. Nov. 12, 1940 2,243,084 Browne May27J 1941 2,250,174` Bancroft July 22, 1941 2,285,915 Dutton .lune 9,1942 2,330,799 Coker et al Oct, 5, 1943 2,564,057 Fitzgerald Aug. 14,1951

